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Jorge Garcia-Vazquez

Age : 24

Gender : Male

Race : Latino/a/e

Date : 07/27/2022

Location : McNutt Road area

City : Santa Teresa

County : Doña Ana

State : New Mexico

Agency : United States Border Patrol

Officer(s) :Not Disclosed

Cause of Death : Vehicle

Event : Passenger killed by police chase crash

OPEN RECORDS SUMMARY :

REASON FOR CHASE: A U.S. Border Patrol agent looking for migrant vehicles attempted to stop a Chevrolet Tahoe after observing the vehicle near Highway 9 in the Santa Teresa area. The driver continued away and a Border Patrol pursuit followed. Border Patrol later alleged the initial pursuit was discontinued after the Tahoe reached high speeds, but a Border Patrol supervisor subsequently followed the vehicle without emergency lights or siren.
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NARRATIVE:
On 07/27/2022, 24-year-old Jorge Garcia-Vazquez was killed when a Chevrolet Tahoe carrying approximately 13 people crashed and rolled over during a U.S. Border Patrol pursuit near Santa Teresa, New Mexico.
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The incident began when a Border Patrol agent attempted to stop the Tahoe near Highway 9. The driver continued away, and the Border Patrol agent pursued the vehicle.
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Border Patrol subsequently alleged the initial pursuit was discontinued because the Tahoe was traveling at high speed. The Tahoe continued through the Santa Teresa area and passed another Border Patrol vehicle on the shoulder.
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A supervisory Border Patrol agent subsequently followed the Tahoe east on Airport Road without activating emergency lights or siren. The supervisor reported seeing dust and headlights ahead before arriving at the crash.
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At approximately 4:45 a.m., the Tahoe left the roadway, struck a utility pole and rolled into a ravine near McNutt Road. The vehicle was carrying approximately 13 people.
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Garcia-Vazquez and 18-year-old Guadalupe Cruze-Vazquez were killed. Numerous other occupants were injured and transported to hospitals.
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Garcia-Vazquez was a Mexican national. Subsequent records identifying fatalities associated with U.S. Customs and Border Protection identify him by name and classify the incident as a vehicle pursuit.
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The Border Patrol Office of Professional Responsibility investigated the fatal incident. Other local and federal agencies also participated in the investigation.
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OFFICER BACKGROUND:
U.S. Border Patrol did not publicly identify the agent who initiated the traffic stop and pursuit or the supervisory agent who subsequently followed the Tahoe in the sources located.
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SOURCE LINKS :

https://kvia.com/news/2022/07/27/two-dead-and-multiple-others-injured-in-rollover-crash-in-santa-teresa-driver-arrested/
https://kvia.com/ap-texas/2022/07/27/2-dead-10-injured-in-suv-rollover-near-us-mexico-border-2/
https://www.cbp.gov/newsroom/speeches-and-statements/two-die-vehicle-accident-transporting-undocumented-migrants-new
https://www.aclunm.org/app/uploads/2022/07/2022.07.27_aclu_letter_to_cbp_re_santa_teresa_vehicle_pursuit.pdf
https://www.aclutx.org/sites/default/files/field_documents/cbp_fatal_encounters_details_-_08052022_0.pdf